New faces in Ireland squad

NIGEL HENDERSON, the Pembroke Wanderers goalkeeper, and young attackers Mark Tumilty (21) of Lisnagarvey and Mark Irwin (20) …

NIGEL HENDERSON, the Pembroke Wanderers goalkeeper, and young attackers Mark Tumilty (21) of Lisnagarvey and Mark Irwin (20) of Instonians are the newcomers in the Ireland squad for the 12 nation World Cup qualifying tournament in Kuala Lumpur from March 4th-15th. They replace the Avoca trio, Peter Darley, Robbie Ryan and Gala had Goulet, who have been afflicted by illness and injury since the balmy days of the preliminary qualifying competition in Cagliari in October.

Henderson awaits his first cap as deputy to Ivan Bateman while Tumilty - called up after Christmas by coach Cees Koppelaar - also has not yet made a full international appearance. Now he joins his brother Lee (22, who played with assurance in Cagliari) in the squad. Both are Ireland Schools players of recent vintage, as is Irwin, who has won two senior caps in build up matches.